Thursday, July 22, 2010

Fruit of Life

For a long time what I am about to share were just words on a page for me. I understood them but had trouble getting them from my head to my heart. It was more of a problem with my faith and how merciful our God truly is. Over time I have seen how faithful God is and how much He really cares for those who have trusted Christ. This strengthens my beliefs and convictions. Assurance is available for all who follow Christ. The assurance that we are saved from sin and wrath help us to walk forward unfettered. The assurance God is always with us gives us courage to go on in some of the most terrible of circumstances. To know...that you know...that you know... is something which comes to us directly from the Spirit of God who bears witness to our hearts. It stems from His fruit.Let me first go into what Christ has saved you from when you received Him as Savior.Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.(Galatians 5:19-21)When you received Christ as Savior you were set free from this. You were set free from having to follow the lusts of the flesh. It isn’t that you are unable to do it but you choose not to do it anymore. Before you had no choice. Christ has set you free but you have to walk according to the Spirit of God or the flesh will try to creep in like an invasive weed. It is up to you to choose to walk daily according to what God’s will is for you that day. You have a choice...you have freedom.The Holy Spirit will help you and direct you. He will give you instruction to the amount you will let Him work in your life. He will not force you. He will allow you to make the final decision on a matter but you need to choose wisely. Just because you are saved doesn’t mean you are some sort of mindless drone. God will take care of what you allow Him to take care of. It is up to your faith in Him as to what you will release to Him. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.(Galatians 5:22-24)This is what God gives you after you receive Christ. These are not fruits but rather fruit. It is singular and not plural. You have it all or you don’t have it at all. This is what God gave you and made you a new creature inside. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is what enables you to walk the walk of a Christian. You can only do it through God. It is your equipment for the journey. Again, how evident this is in the life in the Christian is according to how much they allow God to work in their lives. You still have a choice. Once again, this choice hinges on your faith in Him. When you trust Him with all of your heart in all things you will see this fruit grow in much fuller measure. You will put away the things of the flesh more as time passes. Your life will be more rewarding to you and the lives of those you come in contact with will be blessed as well. You will grow and be blessed as you are doing so.To someone who has not received Christ as Savior this is all gibberish. I would say to them that God wants you to have this fruit and made a way by which it can be obtained. To those Christians who do not see the measure of fruit they would like to see I would say simply trust God. Use the faith God has given you and start taking Him at His word. His word is true and faithful. Study your scripture to grow your faith. (Romans 10:17) To know...that you know...that you know...is more valuable than anything you will ever gain on this earth.Father, I thank you for the freedom I have in Christ. I thank you for the help of the Holy Spirit in all of the aspects of my life. If there be any reading this that are like I was and have trouble understanding this, I ask that you would guide them and help them. Strengthen their faith and give them and unquenchable desire for your word. Bless all who read this in great abundance of blessings. May your name be praised and glorified in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.